Nut picking and separating machine



April 29, 1952 R. c. HIATT 2,594,776

NUT PICKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1- IN VEN TOR. ROBERT C. H lATT ATTORN EY April 29, 1952 R. c. HIATT NUT PICKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1947 INVENTOR. ROBERT C H IATT ATTORNEY April 1952 R. c. HIATT NUT PICKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 17, 1947 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,594,776 Y NUT Home AND SEPARATING MACHINE 7 Robert C. Hiatt, Hillsboro, Oreg. Application November 17, is zseri l No. 786,402

1 Claim. (01. 2094i) This invention relates to nut picking machines and is particularly adapted for picking filberts, walnuts and the like.

The primary object is to build a nut picking machine employing a rotating sweeper working in combination with an air conveyor for picking the nuts oif the ground and conveying them through a cleaning or separating, zone before delivering them into sacks.

Another object of the invention is to accomplish the above object in such a manner that one for harvesting the duchillies in the case of filberts. This device separates the duchillies from the leaves and lighter materials.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of my new and improved nut picking machine.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View taken from the opposite side,

parts being broken away for convenience of.

illustration.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3 illustrating the clod breaking feature of my picker.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the air conveyor having the special attachment for processing duchillies.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the assembled machine.

Figure 7 is a perspective fragmentary view of the air stream opening and gathering pan.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on lines 88 of Figure 3 illustrating the platforms and gratmgs.

In the drawings:

My new and improved nut picking machine consists of longitudinal frames I and 2 connected together at their one end by the platform 3, and at their opposite or forward ends by the frame 4 extending transversely and diagonally from the said frames l and 2. Supporting wheels 5 are mounted to the upwardly extending frame portions of U-frames 6 and are for supporting the general overall weight of the machine. A caster wheel 1 supports the transverse frame 4 together with the sweeper rotor assembly 8.

A tubular air conveyor 9 is mounted to the transverse frame 4 at l0 and has the housing ll forming part thereof offset and extending rearwardly from the upper outlet end of conveyor 9 proper with a bottom discharge opening, which in turn is supported by the upstanding frame members 12. The lower end l3 of the air tube 9 terminates in an air blower l4, while the upper end I5 is open to the atmosphere at IS.

A power plant or motor I1 is mounted to the platform 3 and drives the countershaft l8 through the belt [9. The blower I4 is driven by the belt 20 from the countershaft l8. The rotor or'sweeping assembly 8 consists of a shaft 2| journalled in the bearing 22 on its one end and within the bearing 23 at its opposite end, said bearing 23 being mounted to the frame member 4. Paddles or sweepers 24 are secured to the shaft 2! through the arms 25 and revolve therewith. The shaft 2! is rotated by the gear box 26 through the belt 21, said gear box being operated by the belt 28 from the countershaft I8.

In operation the rotor assembly 8 is rotated in the direction of the arrows sweeping the nuts, leaves and clods ahead of the same and towards the pick up pan 29 due to the fact that the rotor assembly is set at an angle to the center line of the machine. The pan 29 forms part of the lower end I3 of the conveyor tube 9, has an upright bafiie at its front end and registers with the opening 30 at its rear end inclined transversely and leading into conveyor 9. This pan delivers the nuts, leaves and clods into the air stream being produced by the blower l4. As the nuts, clods and leaves enter the air stream they are blown up through the conveyor 9, the nuts and clods striking the baffle 3| which is adjustably mounted at 32 to the upper end of the housing I I. The leaves and light particles will be blown out at If; into the atmosphere while the nuts and clods will fall back down on to the receiving platforms 33, referring to Figures 3, 4 and 8. The receiving platforms are pivotally mounted to the housing I I at 34 at their inner ends and supported by the springs 35 at their outer ends, said springs resting upon the cross frame 36 which is adjustably mounted to the housing at 31.

A rubber covered roller 38 is journalled within the housing II and revolves in the direction of the arrow, when the nuts and clods fall on the platform 33, the nuts will pass through under the roller 38 without harm or breakage but the clods of dirt will be broken up falling down through the grating 39 to the ground while the nuts will pass over the grating into the receiving bag 40, said bag resting on the platform 4| and being secured to the spout 42 located in the lower end of the housing H. The roller 38 is driven by the belt 43 from the countershaft l8.

In the pickin of duchillies a special attachment 44 is secured to the upper end 15 of the housing H, as by bolts 45. The baiile 3| will be removed when the attachment 44 is installed. An adjustable bafiie 46 is pivotally mounted at 41 and is adjusted to any desired angle relative to the upper end of the housing by the adjusting screws 48. A receiving bag 49 is secured to the spout 50 of the attachment 44.

In the harvesting of duchillies the nuts having the husks remaining thereon strike the bafile 4E and fall into the bag 49, but the nuts having the husks removed strike the bafiie 46 and drop down on to the platform 33 and under the roller 38 on to the grate 39 into the bag 40. The leaves and lighter particles are blown out through the opening Hi. In order for this to happen the angle of the bafiie 46 must be adjusted at just the right angle to accomplish this result. Due to the fact that the nuts with the husks are more easily blown by the air stream they will strike the baflie 46 and be deflected into the bag 49.

In the operation of my new and improved nut picker, the operator grasps the handles 5| for guiding the machine, which is normally supported on the supporting wheels 5 and the underside 52 of the lower end I3 of the conveyor 9 and the caster wheel I. The operator can control the direction of travel of the machine through the handles 5!. The machine is propelled by the driving belt 53 from the countershaft 18 to the driving wheel 5A.

As stated above the rotor assembly 8 is driven by the belt 21, gear box 23, belt 28 to the countershaft 18, which in turn is driven by the motor I! through the belt 19, At the same time the blower i4 is driven by the belt 20, the paddles 24 are forcing the nuts onto the pan 29 and through the opening 39 into the conveyor 9. The air stream from the blower picks the same up blowing the leaves and light material out through the opening 16, allowing the nuts and clods to strike the bafile 3! or 46 and drop down on the platforms 33 where they will be rolled under the roller 28 '4 breaking the clods into fine particles delivering the nuts onto the grating 39, thence into the receiving bag 40.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact mechanical construction as illustrated, as other modifications may be substituted still coming within the scope of my claim.

What is claimed as new, is:

A nut separating machine comprising a rearwardly extending tubular chute having an upwardly extending inclined rear end portion with a top discharge opening, a blower at the front end of the chute, means for delivering nuts and accompanying leaves and other light particles of foreign matter and dirt directly to and at an angle to the longitudinal center of the chute in rear of the blower to be carried along in the air stream'irom said blower, the upper portion of the chute being open at the top and front and havin a rearwardly ofiset rear wall forming a bottom discharge opening, a rearwardly inclined housing at and below said opening and having a discharge opening at the back, an angularly adjustable baflie at the top oi said chute above said opening, a rearwardly inclined platform beneath said opening and comprising a plurality of spaced individually hinged members resiliently supported, to receive the nuts and heavy foreign material blown up through the chute and falling by gravity.

ROBERT C. HIATT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 146,876 Craven Jan. 27, 1874 552,748 Crippen Jan. 7, 1896 971,608 Hedfeldt Oct. 4, 1910 988,707 Hedfeldt Apr. 4, 1911 1,022,587 Higginbottom Apr. 9, 1912 1,233,965 Bishop et al July 17, 1917 1,330,488 Nelson Feb. 10, 1920 1,593,729 Stebbins July 27, 1926' 1,631,423 Lucas June 7, 1927 1,808,928 Lint June 9, 1931 2,065,169 Carpenter Dec. 22, 1936 2,162,392 Solomon, Jr. et al. June 13, 1939 2,321,166 Symons June 7, 1943 2,394,745 Brown Feb. 12, 1946 

